soften up; soldier on; sort out; sound off (about); sound out; spark off; spark up

soften * up +
(進攻前用轟炸等) 削弱 (敵人的防禦措施)
The bombardment softened up their defenses; I think we can move in tomorrow.

soften * up +
瓦解…的反抗，化解…的反對，使軟化
I paid for everything to soften them up before they made the decision.

soldier on
(不畏困難地) 繼續幹下去
Life got hard for my dog when he went blind, but he just soldiered on and never complained.

sort * out +
處理，解決 (問題)
Has the firm sorted out its tax problems yet?

sound off (about)
大發議論；抒發不滿；高談闊論，誇誇其談
He sounded off about the quality of the food.

sound * out +
試探…的意見；探聽…的意圖；探詢
You should sound her out to get her opinion before you go ahead with the plan.

spark * off +
導致，引發 (激烈或不愉快的事)
The riot was sparked off by the police raid on the club.

spark * up +
點燃香菸或大麻菸
They sparked up in a no smoking area.